Short Video Pushing the new Epique E150HE 44 subwoofer driver to its Maximum Excursion!

This brief demo of the Dayton Audio Epique E150HE-44 subwoofer shows off its enormous excursion capabilities. I did push it possibly a bit too far… I smelled a bit of ‘warmth’ from the coil… but it seems to have survived the punishment just fine with no bottoming-out....
...Hey, I pushed this thing to it’s limit so you don’t have to!
Just so you know... after this test, I did hook the driver up using both coils in series for an 8 ohm load which would match it’s published specs... it took a bit more ‘turning up’ of the volume knob, but I was basically able to nearly max the excursion out hooked up that way as well - which would be nearly 100 watts through both coils.
UPDATE: As usual, using the amp in Bluetooth mode limited the input signal. I had to turn the sub volume mostly up and the main volume up to more than 50% to get the Dayton Audio DTA-2.1 amp to push enough power to make this sub start moving close to it's potential. I switched back to one 4 ohm coil -- allowing for more wattage to go to the driver, which really helps in Bluetooth mode. When using Bluetooth as an input, the volume at which the song is recorded at will play a factor in weather or not this amp will sufficiently drive this sub or not as well. Not a knock on either device, just reporting what I found.
Links:
Epique E150HE subwoofer: www.parts-expr...
Dayton Audio 2.1 Amplifier: www.parts-expr...
Marlin P Jones Mini Waveform Generator Kit: www.mpja.com/M...

[@Toid]

That is so awesome! You were really working it. I'm working on using this in a two-way with the CSS ld25x. I'm really intrigued with your use of passive radiators. Can't wait to see it done

[@zarboaudioprojects1430]

Thanks! Looking back, maybe I pushed it a tad too far... but I knew that amp shouldn't quite be able to do a full 100 watts, so I figured I was safe. But, the MPJ&A signal generator has HUGE output compared to Bluetooth, so... Hopefully what I smelled were the glues they used in manufacturing warming up and not the voice coil melting. :) That CSS tweeter looks to be a really nice performing tweeter. All their stuff is basically excellent. I watched your interview with Chris Perez from PE talking about how high and clean the E150HE can go in frequency... combined with that tweeter with it's ability to cross low and still sound clean, it sounds like a good matchup. Probably be one of the loudest/cleanest smallish two-ways ever! Looking forward to seeing that project. Thanks for commenting.

[@SamFirthDesigner]

Your videos are pitched and constructed really well. Subscribed

[@zarboaudioprojects1430]

Thanks for that. It helps. I'm happy you can see through the imperfections to what I'm trying to do.

[@samscharp3367]

I also bought this little subwoofer to go with a soundbar I picked up. I was planning on building a smaller enclosure with an 8" Dayton Audio passive ive radiator I have had laying around. I'm looking forward to seeing what you build for this little guy.

[@zarboaudioprojects1430]

The cabinet is done, then need to get veneer on and put a finish on it. Hopefully within a few weeks it will be humming. Thanks for the comment Sam.

[@cdelapaz5]

that little driver is pretty awesome

[@zarboaudioprojects1430]

Yes it is, Awesome is the correct word.

[@kipwyand7869]

In my home, that would qualify as child of abuse

[@theoloniousfunk]

Awesome! Notifications are working again. Thanks again for all your hard work bringing us content to enjoy.

[@zarboaudioprojects1430]

I'm glad it's working right now. I can't wait to get this thing in a box and see what it can do.

[@johnoates3326]

Nice little sub...Have u tried the genius nitro 6.5 inch subs? I used 2 in a bt speaker build and they are very impressive! I am very very impressed with them!

[@zarboaudioprojects1430]

I just checked them out. Looks pretty nice for the price. That's one heck of a Bluetooth speaker if you have two of them installed!

[@garlicbad]

Can't wait to see the building video.

[@zarboaudioprojects1430]

Thanks. I ordered the two passives today from Parts Express. Pretty excited about this project!

[@LordKawa78]

Stavo guardandomi in giro e la serie epique sembra uno dei prodotti più innovativi dell'ultimo periodo. Stavo valutandoli per la progettazione di un 2 vie avendo una buona estensione. Tu che ne pensi ?

[@jobos98]

The Buzz is the amp Clipping

[@2002ZRX1200R]

Holy mechanical noise, Batman!

[@zarboaudioprojects1430]

I'm giving her all she's got captain!!!

[@2002ZRX1200R]

@@zarboaudioprojects1430 plausible, but that much noise is a sign of low quality parts lol.

[@csdstudio78]

I have one, it's horrible. I've never heard a driver make so much motor noise. It's air chuffing violently through the voice coil like a locomotive. I own other dayton subs, sb acoustics, scanspeak. All silent. Terrible design.

[@shakenbake2k479]

The buzzing was distortion and the clicking was it bottoming out.

[@zarboaudioprojects1430]

It may have sounded like it was bottoming out on the video, but in person, it wasn't bottoming out quite yet. All drivers with high excursion make some noise when working to the limits. We never hear it because the "noisy" parts are inside the cabinet, but with that much flexing going on (and air moving as well) there is bound to be some noise. Amp clipping can be a noisy affair as well. Go one little touch higher on the volume knob and it starts to sound a little like rattling or something similar. There may have been a tiny bit of that going on... but mostly this thing was just making the normal sounds a driver makes when pushed to it's physical limits. Just think about that much air moving back and forth that fast with all the 'vortices' that would happen along the edges of the cone as it's suspended in free air... there's going to be some fluttering sounds going on there for sure.

[@davntelisha19]

Wow amazing 🤩🤩🤩

[@Insanity_Wolf]

How in the hecking heck did that amp run that speaker? Tested this when I first got it on the 2.1 T116D2 Bluetooth amp. It wasn't having that at all. Started clipping at 20% volume, also before clipping had near zero movement, then the second you turned it up. Was clipping like it wanted to punch thru the floor.

[@zarboaudioprojects1430]

The reason I was able to drive the Epique with that amp was mostly due to the MPJ@A sine wave generator. It's a really cool little diagnostic and test tool. It has a VERY strong output, where most inputs from a phone, iPod, Bluetooth, MP3 player, etc. are MUCH weaker. By using the MPJ@A signal generator, I was able to get ALL of the Dayton amp's available wattage to push the driver to it's full stroke. PLUS... I was only driving one coil, so 4 ohms instead of 8 when the two coils are wired in series. Most little amps seem to have a pretty weak op amp setup and have trouble reaching their full power unless driven by something like a home CD player or laptop headphone output.

[@StillRenderFilm]

Did the clicking noise go away when you put it in the box?

[@zarboaudioprojects1430]

Yes, no noise in box. The noise wasn't so pronounced in real life, the mic emphasized the sound it was making in a weird way. Nearly all high-excursion drivers will make a little 'noise' when flexed that hard, if for no other reason than air current vortices stopping and starting nearly instantly front to back since it's not on a baffle. It's dead quiet in box, though. Well, except for all that wonderful bass it's making. : ) Thanks for commenting.

[@SheikhN-bible-syndrome]

Do you like that frequency generator? I've been wanting to try one

[@zarboaudioprojects1430]

I LOVE that frequency generator! It outputs such a strong signal and it's so easy to use and play with. I'm fining it very useful. You can't plug a cell phone into most subwoofer plate amps and drive it to it's maximum wattage level, but with this, you really can. Plus it's just fun to mess with it and see what your woofer can really do! I have mine powered with a 9V power supply and I keep it in a clear plastic case so I can see it. I get no $$ for promoting this, or anything for that matter, but here is the link for those wondering about it: www.mpja.com/Mini-Waveform-Generator-Case-Kit/productinfo/35885+TE/ Thanks for the comment!

[@anandshah71]

How is this single driver sub compared to your peerless sub that you built how would you compare

[@zarboaudioprojects1430]

This driver is capable of what sounds to me like MUCH more output than the Peerless, and the bass is less distorted with this driver compared to the Peerless as well. The Epique sub digs a big deeper as well. This driver has similar output to a good high-excursion 8" subwoofer with the exception of slightly less output in the 20-30 Hz. Range where the Epique driver is more limited due to it's smaller piston size.

[@davntelisha19]

You should of plug all for leads

[@mattfranklin3622]

Try it with the 7” version!

[@zarboaudioprojects1430]

You want to see me melt the voice coil on a 7" Epique? If I had a spare I'd consider it. : )

[@mattfranklin3622]

@@zarboaudioprojects1430 Not melt it, just test it!

[@zarboaudioprojects1430]

That's not nearly as fun, but much less expensive. : ) Thanks for watching and for the comment!

[@utubecomment21]

I love Dayton speakers, woofers and tweets (currently in my home audio setup) ... I never got on with their subs. I've seen too many failures, bad smells and/or noisy subs for my liking.

[@zarboaudioprojects1430]

Understood. We all have different experiences with this stuff. I know some folks to get bad ones or duds... it's going to happen. I was really pushing this thing to the limit, and to be clear... this driver did not experience any type of failure despite my abuse. I warmed up the voice coil assembly for sure... but the other new, unused driver has the same smell if I get my nose in there... just not quite as strong. This exact driver lives in my newest subwoofer creation, the Epique Small Cube Subwoofer which I did a video of... here is the link for easy reference if you haven't caught it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m2S4Z3iNo8uog8k This one is a winner 100%. It can take more abuse than I expected it to. We have to remember... myself included... that subs alone are going to be a bit noisy at the limits... add in the rest of the signal and it's all good. I do respect your experience with Dayton subs... sorry you had some bad ones.

[@utubecomment21]

@@zarboaudioprojects1430 Happy New Year to you!

[@term0s]

Only 650PLN in Poland...

[@zarboaudioprojects1430]

So that's around $150 US dollars. That's 50% more... man, I'm sorry!

[@xxmeanyheadxx]

i came here to see flames.

[@zarboaudioprojects1430]

I buy all this stuff with my own money, so I get close, but no "lit" cigar! : )

[@xxmeanyheadxx]

@@zarboaudioprojects1430 hahah I'm just playing with you I enjoyed the video :) not much content on these bad boys yet I am thinking of making small la scala bookshelf clones

[@puresesh7985]

Xmax? Thats xmech more like

[@zarboaudioprojects1430]

I was wincing near the end -- expecting to hear bad noises, but it was a champ the whole time!

[@puresesh7985]

@@zarboaudioprojects1430 hell yeah

[@JadeB628]

when you run a DVC sub using only one voice coil. you're destroying it. a DVC 4 ohm can only run at either 2 ohm or 8 ohm. no one in his right mind uses the 2 ohm on a home audio. its cheating the amp and the speaker.

[@zarboaudioprojects1430]

I agree that running dual 4 ohm coils in parallel will yield a 2 ohm load which almost no sub plate amps will tolerate when stressed. However, using just one of the two coils is not detrimental to the driver in any way... as long as the TS specs are used to design an appropriate enclosure, and you are happy with the type, and size of the enclosure.

[@salsafita29]

Harga brapa bos

[@jobos98]

$99.00 u.s.

[@DNL82]

I think only using one coil can damage the subwoofer.

[@mpugne]

nope the driver couldn't care less as long as you don't over power it.

[@onesikm3]

Why would you think that lol ? Or did it just hit you there is 3 ways of wirring configurations for a dvc woofer ? That’s how bmw did it in the front kick midbass drivers back in 95 in the m3. So if my speakers were still playing perfectly fine for the last 30 years then I’m sure you’ll be just fine! It gives the user the flexibility to fine tune your speaker with the equipment you have available to get the most wattage output from the amp based on the ohm loads 😁

[@chrome2infinity938]

100 bucks for that woofer! Pass ...